What was I even doing?

The glaive was cold in my hands, slicing easily through the air and snow. The creatures all around me whimpered, the whining of steam escaping from their rocky bodies.

My limbs felt sluggish, but the human part of me provided enough heat to keep the pneumatic muscles moving despite the cold weather. I dragged the edge through the Echo’s side, piercing the black, viscous skin and feeling the warm ichor escape from within.

People had been trapped inside.

I kicked away the body, clearing the snow away from the door so they could get outside. Some brave people were out with plows, trying desperately to keep the streets clear, but the infrastructure just wasn’t there. These people would have to brave the storm to get home, but hey, it was probably better than spending the night in a supermarket.

Or maybe not. Maybe they didn’t have any food stocked at home.

The snow finally, clear, the mechanical doors slid open. It was warm inside. I felt my metabolism increase instantly, revitalizing my body. My wings fluttered with anticipation. Perhaps the warmth would be enough to let me get a short flight before they froze shut again.

Someone’s scream broke my train of thought. Right. “Hey. Don’t worry. I’m not going to hurt—”

I was interrupted by another scream. Of course they were afraid. I looked like a xenomorph. They probably thought I was the cause of all this. Stupid conspiracy theories about insect people causing the end of the world all over social media. I wanted to strangle the guys involved. I simply flew down the aisles, listening to the rhythm of their footsteps as they scrambled for the exits. I just hoped nobody had taken a photo or video of me.

I sat alone in the store for a while, basking in the warmth and letting myself recharge. I was a bit hungry too. I found a bottle of honey and immediately craved it. Stupid body didn’t even know it wasn’t a bee. Whatever. I popped open the bottle and started drinking it.

Sarah and Heidi were right. And that was the worst part. Why was I still out here? I was doing what they wanted, anyways. Killing the Echoes. Looking for Ecto himself, wherever he was. A few times, I’d seen him fleetingly, on that mammoth Echo, thundering through the storm. But every time, he’d vanish into the cover before I could reach him, my wings long since frozen and the heavy snowdrifts impeding any progress on foot.

But they were right.

I had no choice, really. If I was supposed to kill demons, that what I needed to do. I’d felt the weight of it all hit me soon after leaving. Sure, I didn’t have to do it. But looking at the frost and snow around me, the people cowing, doing their best, but for how much longer? A week? A month? A year? As the snow and ice piled up, I could imagine how dreadful it would be. And so if there was anything I could do, any hope, any prophecy to lean on, I simply had to.

“Lost in thought?”

Thea was there. Dressed... in a purple suit. Again. What a surprise. Though not dressed for the weather at all, she didn’t seem the slightest bit cold. It reminded me again of her... “You killed Angelina.”

“She’s still alive. Just out of commission.”

“So what they said was true, then? You had your Echoes tear her apart?”

“Is that what they’ve been saying? Look at me, Quinn. My echoes... my dear Friend. My majestic Taurus. My lovely little bird. She took them all. She relished in killing. You should have seen her. The exact opposite of what I want you to be.”

“I...”

“They told you that you just have to kill demons, right? That it’s your purpose. Your destiny?”

“Ecto’s going to kill everyone here.”

“No. They’re going to be liberated from their mortal coils. Taken to the paradise that awaits them. What you almost saw, before he so rudely interrupted. Now come with me. I’ll show you it in full. I’ll convince you. I’ll let you choose.”

I wanted to say yes. “No. Sorry. It’s too much. I can’t take your word for it, sorry. You’ll have to wait. This storm needs to end.”

“You’re accepting their stupid destiny for you?”

“Do I have a choice? He needs to be stopped. If you really want to be different from the other demons, help me stop him. Then you can convince me that what you’re doing is right.”

Thea tilted her head to the side, considering my offer. “Perhaps... that can be arranged. You’ve been having trouble getting to him, right? Between all the snow and stuff.”

“How did you know?”

“He’s afraid of you, that’s why. Tried to scare you into submission. But he’s not very good at that, and when it failed... I can take you to him. If that’s what you want. If you want to be one of those bloody angels, like Angelina. Like the others. If you want to kill him. If you want to see his blood running down your glaive, staining your carapace.”

“I don’t want to—”

“But you have to?” Thea smiled. “It’s your destiny? You can keep telling yourself that. If it makes you feel better. But at the end of the day, they’re all choices, all the same.” She gave me her hand.

I took it.